 
|
|
Paperback
Publisher: Phoenix Books
ISBN13: 9781597776226
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
In Ring of Hell: The Story of Chris Benoit & The Fall of The Pro Wrestling Industry, author Matthew Randazzo V explores the events leading up to the grisly demise of World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Chris Benoit. In an unexpected, although not altogether surprising fit of madness in June, 2007, Benoit strangled his wife, choked his seven-year-old son to death and then hung himself from his own weight machine. Beyond Benoit's twisted story, Randazzo's shocking expose delves deep into the scandals and cover-ups of the global wrestling industry, where drug addictions, sociopathic superstars and broken families are the norm and situations like Benoit's are all-too-often ignored. Bringing to light previously unpublished stories of racism, drug abuse, sexual misconduct and organized crime ties, at long last Matthew Randazzo V reveals the dysfunctional, sadistic underbelly of the multi-billion dollar wrestling business; the Ring of Hell that ultimately engulfed Chris Benoit.
| Customer Reviews: |
|
| |
| Sacrificing Benoit |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
 |
|
First, this is not a biography of Chris Benoit, this is a brutal look at pro-wrestling which destroys any contribution Benoit may have made by disgorging his life and rampant steroid abuse. The modern business of wrestling is constantly attacked and dwells off of the presence of steroids, drugs, and alcohol. At least to the non-fan. Randazzo is obviously not a fan of pro wrestling as there are less than ten pages in this entire book in which he doesn't somehow degrade this form of entertainment. I could really care less how people view pro wrestling but to seemingly insist it is nothing more than staged cock-fighting backed up by steroids and narcotics is a bit overboard.
This is not a look into a wrestler's life and the savage crime he committed. This book is a True Crime genre text in which it is the author's job to take the subject and make him seem endearing to the public for a few pages and then turn around and show that the subject is the most horrific piece of garbage in existance. Randazzo does this admiringly well with Benoit and uses Dynamite Kid, Pillman, Guerrero, and Owen's tragedy to back up his defense on the business in general.
On the upside, the entire text is a remarkable look at a business that is in severe need of change for the overall well-being of the participants if nothing else. These are independent contractors that have no health insurance or retirement plan and whose careers are forced to endure longer than their bodies can take it. Randazzo's attack on Benoit and wrestling (face it, it is nothing short of an all-out attack) is brutal and unforgiving (not that Benoit's final acts should be forgiven) but it should make hardcore fans take another look and realize there is so much more going on than watching hardbodies like Cena, Batista, and others playing superheroes in the ring. Somehow during is assault on Benoit, Randazzo also decides to take shots at HHH and his marriage to Stephanie McMahon but it reallt didn't need to be here to support his argument.
Anyway, as a wrestling biography, this is a tragedy. As a true crime novel, it is top notch. Either way, it should be required reading for wrestling fans just so they are forced to learn that there's more going on than what WWE, TNA, and other companies are allowing you to see on television.
|
| Harsh realities |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
|
|
Australia, where I reside, is a long way from where Chris Benoit wrestled. We were not exposed to the TV wars between Ted Turner and the WWE. Wrestling sort of washes up on shore via fairly limited release DVDs, and we don't get wrestling talk shows and gossip columns. As a result most of the contents of this book were news to me.
I found the book to be fascinating, well organised and well written.
It is ironic that in the 'cartoon world' of wrestling, where everyone is in the joke that it isn't 'real', there are real wrestlers who give their heart and soul to the enterprise. The loss of Bret Hart's title in the Montreal screw job and the industry's failure to appreciate Chris Benoit's skill and efforts resonate in this book. Mark Randozzo records how Chris Benoit cared so much about the 'reality' he sought to portray, but can't understand why. There is an air of the Greek tragedy about Chris Benoit. Ring of Hell gives an insightful appraisal of the modern professional wrestling industry. Not to be missed.
|
| Chilling and Provacative |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
|
|
This book blows the lid off of the WWE and pro-wrestling in general. Steroids,drugs,alcohol abuse,prescription drug abuse, all just to make that crowd pop. Oh and I forgot about all the spousal abuse. Great book.
|
| Hey Vince, Give This A Read |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
|
|
An outstanding expose of professional wrestling - and I've always been a fan. Book takes Benoit's career and ultimate tragedy into the context of a corrupt business. Plenty of good gossip that seems hard to refute. His stories of training in Japan and in the "Dungeon" are classics. If you want to know why WWE is falling through the cracks, you'll know who to thank. Book is as sad as it is interesting. A great read that you won't be able to put down. I also took off a point for lousy copy editing.
|
| An extremely thought provoking (albeit one-sided) look into pro wrestling |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
 |
|
It's not always easy being a wrestling mark. Very few other forms of entertainment elicit the extreme responses that admitting you are fan of wrestling fan does. There really is no in between - people either love it or think of it in the same light as paying to see the 75 pound rat at the state fair. This book was written for the former group, but the tone will be much more appealing for the latter.
Ring of Hell is mainly centered on around the rise and mega-fall of Chris Benoit - a man who most hardcore wrestling fans thought of as an almost a god-like being during the late 90s and early part of this century. It chronicles Benoit's insane (barbaric) training, massive drug addiction, and psychological downfall. Really though most of that was either already known (or widely assumed) - the book's real contribution is the insight it provides to the wrestling industry as a whole. This is a no-holds-barred expose on wrestling. From the addictions to drugs, booze, and sex to the "ribs" played backstage to the deaths of the wrestlers, no stone is left unturned. If you ever wanted to know what truly goes on behind the scenes, this is your book.
I gave this book "5-stars" mainly because I think every wrestling (and non-wrestling) fan should read it. That's not to say the book doesn't have its flaws. For one, there are typos and the author uses graphic language to describe situations. Second, the book almost reads as a personal attack on wrestling while very little (or, in most cases, zero) time is spent bringing up counterarguments. Third, there are times when this negative criticism of wrestling becomes so one-sided it's tough to figure out exactly what the author wants done. For example, the book constantly bashes wrestlers like Benoit and Eddie Guerrero for being devoted to the "business" and unwilling to leave despite the overwhelming evidence that it will eventually kill them. Then the author almost looks down on Shane Douglas, a man who got out of wrestling, because he now makes an honest living working at Target. I'm sure the author's point was that a grown man now has to make a living working at Target due to wrestling, but what about the fact that Douglas was able to make oodles of money while as wrestler, enjoyed the high life for a time, got out, and is now working a low-stress job that can support his family. If all the money he earned while wrestling was blown leaving him no other option, who's fault is that - wrestling or Douglas'?
Again though, the book will make you think twice about the insane world of pro wrestling. It's not always fair or willing to discuss the counterarguments, but it's truthful and thought provoking - a rarity when it comes to this profession.
|
|
